Wound Care Center Expansion

Dr. Anibal Gauto and one of Eisenhower Wound Care Center’s two SECHRIST Model 3300E\ER Monoplace
(for one person) Hyperbaric Chambers, which are designed to provide very high oxygen concentrations.Since it opened in late 2008, Eisenhower Medical Center’s Wound Care Center has treated more than 400 patients each month and is currently planning an expansion for the spring of 2011. Patient volumes have been so high since the opening, that the Eisenhower is expanding the Center with the addition of two new hyperbaric chambers, and more treatment and waiting rooms.

Nearly half of the patients seen at the Wound Care Center are diabetic.“The disease itself creates a series of maladies that make the feet and legs susceptible to trauma with a diminished ability to heal,” explains Anibal Gauto,MD, Medical Director of Eisenhower’s Wound Care Center. “People with diabetes are more susceptible to infection, plagued by poor circulation, and frequently have neuropathy.” Dr. Gauto says that other disease states or illnesses can also result in wounds including: arterial vascular insufficiencies and circulation problems, varicose veins, immunocompromised patients and trauma patients.

Each patient seen at the Wound Care Center is given a comprehensive wound assessment. Treatment plans are based on the full assessment of each patient and their specific wound care needs.“There are many reasons a wound won’t heal,” says Dr.Gauto.“It is important to make a precise diagnosis when it comes to a wound.You must define all the underlying problems in the patient that could impede healing. That way, you can create an environment for optimum healing.”

The Eisenhower Wound Care Center currently features two state-of-the-art monoplace (for one patient) hyperbaric chambers. The Center also currently employs the only certified hyperbaric technician in the area.Hyperbaric oxygen therapy delivers concentrated levels of oxygen to a patient to aid in wound healing.“Patients ordinarily spend one and a half to two hours in the unit,” explains Dr. Gauto.“After a hyperbaric treatment, their oxygen levels stay elevated for hours afterwards. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has a number of beneficial physiological affects on the circulation and all mechanisms of healing.”

To establish the best Wound Care Center possible, Eisenhower has partnered with Diversified Clinical Services, which manages 300 wound care centers throughout the United States. Eisenhower has access to and contributes to Diversified’s wound care data collection center — a database of more than two million patients. This data is available to Eisenhower Wound Care Center physicians for analysis, research, publishing, teaching and learning.

The results are impressive. The Eisenhower Wound Care Center ranks near the very top of Diversified’s more than 300 centers.“Our healing rate has been about 98 percent,” shares Dr. Gauto.“Our patients’ satisfaction is more than 95 percent, and our patient loyalty index — measuring the number of patients that will recommend our center to others — is 98 percent.”

“We love wound healing,” says Dr.Gauto. “When we see a patient with a challenging wound and we heal that wound, and the quality of life of that patient is changed significantly, we are so pleased.We love that!”

For more information, call Eisenhower Wound Care Center at 760-834-3790.